BlackBerry 10http://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/11350/all
enT-Mobile Trade-In Ends with Even More BlackBerry Users Jumping Shiphttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/tmobile_tradein_ends_even_more_blackberry_users_jumping_ship
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/blackberry_q10_620px.png" alt="BlackBerry Q10" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>After raising the ire of BlackBerry fans with an offer to switch to iPhone, T-Mobile US debuted an offer just for those users -- but it turns out the majority of them wound up ditching their BlackBerry anyway.<br /><a href="http://www.tmonews.com/2014/03/94-of-blackberry-trade-ins-switched-to-other-platforms-during-promo/" target="_blank"><br />TmoNews reported Tuesday</a> that the recent T-Mobile US trade-in offer for BlackBerry users appears to have had an unexpected side effect, with 94 percent of those users switching to something else instead.<br /><br />The trade-in event which ended today was intended as a peace offering for owners of older BlackBerry hardware, which was worth $200 as a trade-in toward a newer smartphone. To sweeten the pot, T-Mobile was even willing to throw in another $50 instant credit for BlackBerry fans looking to get into the latest and greatest BlackBerry 10 handsets, such as the keyboard-packing BlackBerry Q10 shown above.<br /><br />The promotion was apparently a success, with one T-Mobile executive claiming the carrier saw 15 times the normal amount of BlackBerry handsets being traded in -- but unfortunately, it seems like the majority of those customers decided to switch to iPhone, Android or Windows Phone instead.<br /><br />There's no word yet on exact numbers of which platforms were favored by BlackBerry trade-ins, but early results are rather ironic considering BlackBerry CEO John Chen blasted T-Mobile for what he called an "inappropriate and ill-conceived" marketing campaign in the first place.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/tmobile_tradein_ends_even_more_blackberry_users_jumping_ship#commentsNewsblackberryBlackBerry 10competitioninstant creditpromotionssmartphonesswitchersT-MobileT-Mobile UStrade-insiPhoneWed, 05 Mar 2014 14:26:38 +0000J.R. Bookwalter19485 at http://www.maclife.comBlackBerry Abandons Buyout Plans, CEO Thorsten Heins Departshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/blackberry_abandons_buyout_plans_ceo_thorsten_heins_departs
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/blackberry_with_canadian_flag_620px.png" alt="BlackBerry office" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>The smartphone maker formerly known as Research in Motion is once again shaking things up as dreams of a buyout die amidst a new $1 billion injection of cash and the departure of its current CEO.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/blackberry-fairfax-deal-dies-thorsten-heins-out/article15240310/?click=tglobe" target="_blank"><em>The Globe and Mail</em> reported Monday</a> that BlackBerry Ltd. has abandoned its great white hope of a buyout, instead choosing to again shake up the executive ranks as the company raises a new round of cash.<br /><br />Following an exhaustive two and a half month search for a buyer which included a $4.7 billion letter of intent from Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. which just so happened to lapse today without a purchase, BlackBerry's board of directors have announced yet another shift in direction.<br /><br />Chief Executive Officer Thorsten Heins is out after barely two years on the job, a position that will be filled in the short term by Chairman of the Board John Chen. Heins ascended to the rank of CEO following the departure of Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie, the executives who steered the ship from its greatest success into troubled waters since the 2007 debut of the iPhone.<br /><br />Instead of selling BlackBerry outright, the board of directors instead chose to raise $1 billion by "selling convertible notes to a group of investors," according to sources with knowledge of the company's plans.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/blackberry_abandons_buyout_plans_ceo_thorsten_heins_departs#commentsNewsblackberryBlackBerry 10Board of DirectorsbuyoutsCEOcorporateexecutivesshakeupssmartphonesThorsten HeinsiPhoneMon, 04 Nov 2013 14:25:20 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18529 at http://www.maclife.comBlackBerry Q2 2014 Reveals Nearly $1B in Unsold Handsetshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/blackberry_q2_2014_reveals_nearly_1b_unsold_handsets
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/blackberry_10_shadowy_keynote_620px.png" alt="BlackBerry 10 event" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>The bad news keeps piling onto BlackBerry, who's apparently sitting on nearly a billion dollars worth of unsold BlackBerry 10 handsets as the company continues to slide into smartphone irrelevance.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/blackberry-reports-second-quarter-fiscal-2014-results-nasdaq-bbry-1835446.htm" target="_blank">BlackBerry announced quarterly earnings on Friday</a> for its fiscal 2014 second quarter which ended Aug. 31, which revealed the company sold somewhere in the neighborhood of 3.7 million smartphones.<br /><br />While those might be impressive numbers for a smaller company, the self-proclaimed "world leader in the mobile communications market" lost somewhere in the neighborhood of $965 million during the same quarter on $1.6 billion in revenue, a 49 percent drop from the previous quarter.<br /><br />"Most of the units recognized are BlackBerry 7 devices, in part because certain BlackBerry 10 devices that were shipped in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 will not be recognized until those devices are sold through to end customers," the announcement revealed.<br /><br />Out of the $965 million lost last quarter, a full $934 million was a one-time write-off on unsold BlackBerry Z10 handsets, the very smartphone that many hoped would be able to turn the company's bad luck around.<br /><br />"We are very disappointed with our operational and financial results this quarter and have announced a series of major changes to address the competitive hardware environment and our cost structure," said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO of BlackBerry.<br /><br />On the plus side, BlackBerry is still sitting on a $2.6 billion pile of cash and investments -- although at the rate they're going, they're burning through it pretty fast.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/blackberry_q2_2014_reveals_nearly_1b_unsold_handsets#commentsNewsblackberryBlackBerry 10BlackBerry Z10CEOlossesquarterly earningssmartphonesThorsten Heinswrite-offsiPhoneMon, 30 Sep 2013 13:06:02 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18189 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: iOS 7 Tech Talks, TWC on HBO, BlackBerry 10 Out at T-Mobilehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_ios_7_tech_talks_twc_hbo_blackberry_10_out_tmobile
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ios_7_tech_talks_620px.png" alt="iOS 7 Tech Talks" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>Like many eager iPhone 5s buyers, the device we ordered at 12:01 AM PST last Friday showed up Wednesday, and it took the better part of the day to restore a huge collection of apps from iCloud -- not to mention re-enter all of our passwords. Pro tip for readers: Restoring from an iTunes backup is the better choice! If you choose to encrypt such backups, passwords will be automagically restored at the same time. And with that, on with today's recap!</p><h3>Apple Announces 6 Cities for iOS 7 Tech Talks</h3><p><a href="https://developer.apple.com/tech-talks/" target="_blank">Apple announced Wednesday</a> that the company will kick off three months of iOS 7 Tech Talks for developers, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 8 in San Francisco and fanning out to New York, Tokyo, Shanghai and Berlin before winging their way to London on Wednesday, Dec. 18. "Get in-depth guidance about developing for iOS 7, learn practical coding tips and tricks, and obtain valuable one-on-one programming and design assistance in our lab," the developer page reads. The events are split into App Developer Days and Game Developer Days, and iOS Developer Program members have until Friday, Sept. 27 at 10 AM PST to get their applications submitted.</p><h3>Time Warner Considers Unbundling HBO for Broadband Subscribers</h3><p><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/25/4771454/time-warner-ceo-open-to-bundling-hbo-with-broadband-subscriptions" target="_blank">The Verge reported Wednesday</a> that there may be hope yet for HBO fans looking to cut ties with their cable or satellite subscription. Speaking at a tech conference in New York this week, Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes suggested that a broadband-only version of HBO could be an option, provided that the customer has an eligible internet subscription from a cable or satellite provider. Calling the deal "an offer you can't refuse," Bewkes appears to have warmed up to the idea, now claiming "we see growth there for HBO in that." Needless to say, the key thing for TWC is protecting its partnerships with cable and satellite providers, and this could offer one way to do just that.</p><h3>T-Mobile US Kicking BlackBerry 10 Handsets Out of Retail Stores</h3><p><a href="http://www.dailytech.com/Report+TMobile+Pulling+BlackBerry+Smartphones+from+Retail+Stores/article33293.htm" target="_blank">DailyTech is reporting</a> that T-Mobile US plans to kick BlackBerry while they're down by removing the Canadian smartphone maker's BlackBerry 10 handsets from all company-owned retail stores. Instead, BlackBerry fans would be forced to use T-Mo's Direct Ship option to have such devices delivered to their home after ordering via phone or web. The bad news seems to just keep piling up around the once-mighty BlackBerry, whose best chance of a comeback seemed to be the very handsets T-Mobile is now kicking to the curb.</p><h3>OWC Ready with Memory Expansion for Latest 27-inch iMacs</h3><p>If you happened to order one of those swanky, refreshed 27-inch iMacs announced Tuesday, the folks at <a href="http://blog.macsales.com/20235-owcs-latest-upgrade-for-new-apple-2013-imac-27-expands-memory-to-32gb-offering-significant-savings-over-stock-apple-configurations" target="_blank">Other World Computing would like you to know</a> that they are now shipping OWC Memory Upgrade Kits for the late 2013 model. Available in 8GB, 12GB, 16GB and 32GB capacities, the kits range from $97.99 to $359, which OWC claims is a 40 percent savings compared to having the same memory installed at the factory by Apple. Installing the memory is a snap, so why not beef up your new best friend by grabbing some memory upgrades today?</p><h3>Google Apologizes for Monday's Gmail Downtime</h3><p><a href="http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/more-on-gmails-delivery-delays.html" target="_blank">The Official Gmail Blog has come forth with an explanation</a> for Monday's lack of incoming email and missing attachments. The downtime has been blamed on "a dual network failure," which Google calls "a very rare event in which two separate, redundant network paths both stop working at the same time." The failure caused incoming messages to start backing up around 5:54 AM PST on Sept. 23, and it took the better part of the day for engineers to tackle the problem and get emails flowing again. Ironically, the company says 71 percent of all incoming messages experienced no delay during the issue, with only 1.5 percent of messages being delayed more than two hours -- but judging from our Twitter feed that day, it felt like a whole lot more.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_ios_7_tech_talks_twc_hbo_blackberry_10_out_tmobile#commentsNews27-inch iMacBlackBerry 10GmailHBOiOS 7overnight recapowcT-Mobile USTech TalksTime Warner CableiPadiPhoneiPodMacThu, 26 Sep 2013 12:21:50 +0000J.R. Bookwalter18159 at http://www.maclife.comReport Claims Keyboard-Equipped BlackBerry Q10 is a Miserable Failurehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/report_claims_keyboardequipped_blackberry_q10_miserable_failure
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/blackberry_q10_620px.png" alt="BlackBerry Q10" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>BlackBerry fans hoping the company's latest keyboard-based smartphone might steer the company clear of a looming iceberg may be disappointed to discover that sales of the device haven't quite worked out the way the company hoped.<br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324324404579041190813417918.html" target="_blank"><em><br />The Wall Street Journal</em> is reporting</a> that sales of the BlackBerry Q10 "have been dismal" in the U.S. and Canada, key markets where the company's keyboard-equipped smartphones have traditional been a stronghold.<br /><br />Earlier this year, the Q10 was hailed as BlackBerry's best chance for survival -- a smartphone with the company's coveted hardware keyboard, but running its latest BlackBerry 10 operating system previously only found on handsets with a software-based keyboard.<br /><br />But retailers say the device was a non-event in terms of getting customers into the store, and the few units that did actually sell wound up eventually being returned.<br /><br />"We saw virtually no demand for the Q10 and eventually returned most to our equipment vendor," lamented Chris Jourdan, the owners of 16 Wireless Zone stores in the midwest.<br /><br />The BlackBerry Q10 also failed to ignite the trade-in market, where previous handset models are often an indication of how "hot" an incoming device is. NextWorth, one of several companies who handles used electronics trade-ins, noted that BlackBerry fans largely skipped the opportunity to upgrade this time around.<br /><br />The report is just the latest bad news for BlackBerry, the onetime smartphone Goliath said to be currently weighing a possible sale of the company.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p><em>(Image courtesy of n4bb.com)</em></p><p><em><br /></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/report_claims_keyboardequipped_blackberry_q10_miserable_failure#commentsNewsblackberryBlackBerry 10BlackBerry Q10KeyboardsNextWorthreturnssalessmartphonesWall Street JournaliPhoneFri, 30 Aug 2013 12:05:09 +0000J.R. Bookwalter17921 at http://www.maclife.comBlackBerry Posts Surprise Q1 Loss, Even with 6.8M Smartphones Shippedhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/blackberry_posts_surprise_q1_loss_even_68m_smartphones_shipped
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/blackberry_10_shadowy_keynote_620px.png" alt="BlackBerry 10 event" width="620" height="300" /></p><p>After posting a surprise profit for the final fiscal quarter of last year, BlackBerry is jolting investors again -- but this time not in a good way, with an adjusted loss of $67 million for the quarter ending June 1.<br /><a href="http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/blackberry-reports-first-quarter-fiscal-2014-results-nasdaq-bbry-1806946.htm" target="_blank"><br />BlackBerry reported its fiscal first quarter results for 2014 on Friday</a>, and after a pleasant surprise profit in the previous quarter, things are again looking less cheery for the March, April and May period.<br /><br />While overall revenue was up 15 percent from the previous quarter to $3.1 billion and the all-important North American market grew by 30 percent, BlackBerry posted an adjusted loss of $67 million or 13 cents per share -- a far cry from the six cents per share profit most analysts were expecting.<br /><br />"During the first quarter, we continued to focus our efforts on the global roll out of the BlackBerry 10 platform," said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO of BlackBerry. "We are still in the early stages of this launch, but already, the BlackBerry 10 platform and BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10 are proving themselves to customers to be very secure, flexible and dynamic mobile computing solutions."<br /><br />Noting that "the smartphone market remains highly competitive, making it difficult to estimate units, revenue and levels of profitability," the quarterly report reveals that BlackBerry shipped 6.8 million smartphones, an increase of 13 percent from the previous quarter -- but curiously, the company doesn't break out how many of those units were actually the latest BlackBerry 10-powered handsets.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p><em>(Image courtesy of Fox Business)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/blackberry_posts_surprise_q1_loss_even_68m_smartphones_shipped#commentsNewsblackberryBlackBerry 10fiscal quarterquarterly lossquarterly resultsshipmentssmartphonesThorsten HeinsiPhoneFri, 28 Jun 2013 11:56:29 +0000J.R. Bookwalter17397 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: Pulse Marries LinkedIn, BlackBerry Returns, RIP Rockmelthttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_pulse_marries_linkedin_blackberry_returns_rip_rockmelt
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/linkedin__pulse_200px.jpg" alt="Announcing LinkedIn + Pulse" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Just when you thought BlackBerry might actually be out of the woods comes word that the company's first BlackBerry 10-powered handset might actually have more returns than sales, at least in some markets. Thursday also didn't bring good news from Rockmelt, who plans to ditch its socially minded web browser, although Pulse and LinkedIn had some good news to share with the world. Find out what it is in today's recap!</p><h3>Pulse News Reader Confirms Marriage to LinkedIn</h3><p>Proving once again that rumors aren't always pulled out of thin air, <a href="http://blog.pulse.me/post/47721164686/pulse-joins-the-linkedin-family" target="_blank">Pulse</a> and <a href="http://blog.linkedin.com/2013/04/11/welcome-pulse-to-linkedin-family/" target="_blank">LinkedIn announced</a> that the news reader app has been acquired by the business-minded social network in a deal said to be worth $90 million, <a href="http://allthingsd.com/20130411/yep-linkedin-acquires-newsreader-startup-pulse-for-90-million/" target="_blank">according to AllThingsD</a>. That's pretty impressive for what essentially began as a Stanford class project, and it also gives LinkedIn plenty of leverage to give Twitter a middle finger salute after the microblogging service cut off tweet syndication to its own social network. In the short term, nothing about Pulse will change -- its creators claim "the Pulse apps will remain the same," so it's hard to say what fruit the partnership will bear a little further down the road.</p><h3>Report: BlackBerry 10 Returns Could Exceed Actual Sales</h3><p>BlackBerry may have successfully launched its latest Z10 with BlackBerry 10 OS in the U.S., but there are a number of signs that it hasn't been quite the big event they were probably hoping for. <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-11/blackberry-falls-on-reports-of-weakening-sales-returns-of-z10.html" target="_blank">Bloomberg reported Thursday</a> that in some cases, returns of the flagship handset actually exceed actual sales, "a phenomenon we have never seen before," analyst Detwiler Fenton said, with returns blamed on the "unintuitive" interface of the BlackBerry 10 software. <a href="http://www.streetinsider.com/Trader+Talk/BlackBerry+%28BBRY%29%3A+Z10+Returns+In-Line+with+Expectations/8248585.html" target="_blank">BlackBerry issued a statement to StreetInsider</a>, calling reports of excessive returns "absolutely false" and stating its return rate is "in-line with other premium smartphones" and "actually better than expectations in some cases."</p><h3>FinderCodes Adds "Re-Turnit" Service for Lost Items</h3><p>If you're like us, you probably know someone who's always losing things -- maybe a spouse or a significant other, for example. If they're using an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, they might want to look into the free <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/findercodes/id530410160?mt=8" target="_blank">FinderCodes</a> app, which just hit version 2.0 this week. The app works in conjunction with confidential QR codes and cloud-based tracking to help users find lost valuables, which can range from lost luggage while on a trip, a pet who's run away or even misplaced keys. Version 2.0 introduces a new feature called "Re-Turnit," which partners with FedEx Office to have lost items returned safely to you, while also allowing additional code details and pet information. For users who pay rewards for their lost items, FinderCodes also includes integration with PayPal to make it easier than ever, right from the app.</p><h3>Rockmelt Throws in the Towel on Social Browser</h3><p>It's been awhile since we've seen any updates from Rockmelt, the Chromium-infused social web browser with Facebook baked right in. On Thursday, <a href="http://blog.rockmelt.com/post/47705335178/an-update-on-the-existing-rockmelt-browser" target="_blank">the company announced in a blog post</a> that it has driven a stake through the existing browser in favor of Rockmelt for Web, a "totally new way to experience your favorite sites, and to discover new sites," which just so happens to work with the web browsers the company was trying to compete with in the first place. Calling distribution of the Rockmelt browser "hard and expensive," existing users will be able to use the application for the time being, but warn that its death sentence will turn into an official execution sometime in the "next several months." In its place, the company recommends Google Chrome, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone already using Rockmelt.</p><h3>Bump App Forced to Bump iTunes Music Sharing Feature</h3><p>Popular sharing app <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bump/id305479724?mt=8" target="_blank">Bump</a> pushed out a modest version 3.5.8 update on Thursday with the usual "bug fixes and performance improvements," but this one wound up being a rare case of actually removing a cool existing feature. "We're sorry, but we are no longer permitted access to iTunes audio files on the device," the version notes read. "Removing access to iTunes audio files in the file sharing section." For those unfamiliar with Bump's sharing prowess, that means the app is no longer capable of sharing iTunes music tracks between devices -- a feature that likely ran afoul of Apple's App Store police.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_pulse_marries_linkedin_blackberry_returns_rip_rockmelt#commentsNewsacquisitionsanalystsApp StoreBlackBerry 10BumpFinderCodeslinkedinovernight recapPulserockmeltiPhoneMacFri, 12 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16718 at http://www.maclife.comWeekend Recap: AppGratis Pulled, Sharing Subscriptions, Frommer Returnshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_recap_appgratis_pulled_sharing_subscriptions_frommer_returns
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/appgratis_200px.png" alt="AppGratis" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />As weekends go, the first one in April was relatively quiet for technology news. But fear not: We've managed to bring together a handful of noteworthy stories you might have missed from the last week, even if they didn't all go down on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Ready to begin? We thought you might be, so read on...</p><h3>AppGratis Discovery Service Disappears from U.S. App Store</h3><p><a href="http://techcrunch.com/2013/04/07/apple-pulls-ios-app-discovery-service-appgratis-from-app-store/" target="_blank">TechCrunch is reporting</a> that popular app daily deal service <a href="http://appgratis.com" target="_blank">AppGratis</a> has vanished from the U.S. App Store, presumably having been yanked by Apple. (The developer has yet to comment on the removal, but the app remains live on at least the French App Store at this writing.) While the report speculates that the removal could be due to legitimate reasons such as a buggy update or the use of a private API, it seems more likely to be Apple enforcing a new developer rule put in place last October. “Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected," the new iOS developer guideline reads -- which puts a service like AppGratis squarely in the headlights. The timing couldn't be worse: The French service raised $13.5 million back in January.</p><h3>Sharing a Subscription Service? You're Not Alone</h3><p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/business/streaming-sites-and-the-rise-of-shared-accounts.html" target="_blank"><em>The New York Times</em> published a story Saturday</a> on a new trend emerging with the younger generation: Borrowing the login for streaming apps such as HBO Go from family or friends to avoid paying a subscription. While the trend is nearly impossible to track, it may also be impossible for content providers to stop -- assuming they want to at all. Indeed, a senior vice president for corporate affairs at HBO was quoted as saying the network doesn't view such sharing “as a pervasive problem at this time," with 6.5 million of its 30 million subscribers currently using the HBO Go mobile app. While some services have already been savvy enough to limit the number of simultaneous users of their subscription-based services (Spotify and Hulu Plus, for example), HBO appears indifferent -- at least for now -- about people poaching its popular shows like <em>Game of Thrones</em>.</p><h3>Travel Guru Frommer Reclaims Brand from Google</h3><p>This one slipped through the cracks last week, but <a href="http://www.boston.com/travel/destinations/2013/04/03/arthur-frommer-gets-frommer-brand-back-from-google/qv1xU4ZUYqOZQNFrU1tGiL/story.html" target="_blank">Boston.com is reporting</a> that travel guide publisher Arthur Frommer has taken his popular brand back from Google and plans to keep publishing them. According to the report, last month Google was quoted as ‘‘quietly pulling the plug’’ on the travel guidebooks it had acquired from Wiley &amp; Sons only last summer. Prior to that, Frommer's work had been published by Simon &amp; Schuster since 1977, but the 83-year-old wrote his first self-published tome, "Europe on 5 Dollars a Day," way back in 1957. Google confirmed the change of hands, but noted that the existing travel content had already been injected into its various web services, including Google Plus. As for Frommer, he plans to pick right back up where he started, but will embrace the new technology: ‘‘We will be publishing the Frommer travel guides in ebook and print formats and will also be operating the travel site Frommers.com.’’</p><h3>Readability Debuts Top Reads Website, Twitter Feed</h3><p>On Friday, <a href="http://blog.readability.com/2013/04/top-reads-v2/" target="_blank">the folks at Readability announced</a> a newly redesigned version of its popular Top Reads offerings, which the read later service describes as "a birds-eye view of what people are reading on the web." Even better, the service has its own dedicated Twitter feed, which will be tweeting the latest and greatest articles currently gaining in popularity on Readability, for those who don't want to keep tabs on a separate website. Finally, Top Reads is also available right from the iOS app as well, in the usual clean Readability way. So what will you be reading today?</p><h3>Test Drive BlackBerry 10 on iOS, Android Smartphones</h3><p><a href="http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57577291-285/preview-blackberry-10-on-your-iphone-android-device/" target="_blank">CNET is reporting</a> that BlackBerry is following in the footsteps of Microsoft by allowing iPhone or Android users to get a taste of its new BlackBerry 10, just by visiting a specific URL from their mobile device. Microsoft did the same with an earlier version of Windows Phone, but the BlackBerry version give prospective platform jumpers a peek at some of the features of its new mobile OS without the potential embarrassment of being seen at a nearby retail store actually touching one. In addition to basic navigation gestures, the web-based demo shows off BlackBerry Hub, the new software keyboard, video and screen sharing features and even the camera software's Time Shift, which is one of the more compelling new additions. To try it for yourself, head to <a href="http://blackberry.com/glimpse" target="_blank">BlackBerry.com/glimpse</a> from your mobile device (it won't work on a desktop browser, but feel free to tap the link if you're reading this from a mobile device).<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_recap_appgratis_pulled_sharing_subscriptions_frommer_returns#commentsNewsApp StoreAppGratisBlackBerry 10daily dealsFrommer'sGoogleHBO GoreadabilitySharingsubscriptionsweekend recapiPhoneMon, 08 Apr 2013 12:23:03 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16670 at http://www.maclife.comBlackBerry Founder Mike Lazaridis Retiring on May 1http://www.maclife.com/article/news/blackberry_founder_mike_lazaridis_retiring_may_1
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/mike_lazaridis_200px.png" alt="Research in Motion founder Mike Lazaridis" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />It's only been fifteen months since Research in Motion founder Mike Lazaridis stepped down as co-CEO of the troubled company, but the smartphone pioneer will soon be retiring from the board of directors as well.<br /><a href="http://allthingsd.com/20130328/mike-lazaridis-leaves-blackberry/" target="_blank"><br />AllThingsD reported Thursday</a> that BlackBerry co-founder and current Vice-Chairman/Director Mike Lazaridis has announced his retirement from the company he founded in 1984, eventually paving the way for a smartphone revolution.<br /><br />The announcement came during <a href="http://allthingsd.com/20130328/blackberry-posts-surprise-quarterly-profit-sells-1-million-z10s/" target="_blank">the company's Q4 2013 earnings call this morning</a>, which found BlackBerry posting a profit for the second quarter in a row, with six million handsets and 370,000 PlayBook tablets shipping during the three months.<br /><br />Among the six million smartphones, the company claims roughly a million of those are BlackBerry 10 devices, a healthy start for fledgling mobile OS. Lazaridis confirms that his retirement has been timed to correspond with the BlackBerry 10 launch.<br /><br />“I believe I have fulfilled my commitment to the Board,” Lazaridis remarked. “Thorsten and his team did an excellent job in completing BlackBerry 10. We have a great deal of which to be proud. I believe I am leaving the company in good hands. I remain a huge fan of BlackBerry and, of course, wish the company and its people well.”<br /><br />Likewise, current BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins had equal praise for his former boss during Thursday morning's earnings call.<br /><br />“Mike revolutionized the mobile communications industry and is widely recognized as one of Canada’s greatest innovators,” Heins said. "I deeply respect his desire to devote his full-time efforts to his new venture."<br /><br />After May 1, Lazaridis will put all of his attention into Quantum Valley Investment, a group that helps find commercial applications for quantum information science.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/blackberry_founder_mike_lazaridis_retiring_may_1#commentsNewsblackberryBlackBerry 10CEOMike Lazaridisquarterly resultsResearch in MotionretirementThorsten HeinsiPadiPhoneThu, 28 Mar 2013 13:45:43 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16599 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: Dell Could Go Private, Pulse Gets Social, PayPal Adds Retailershttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_dell_could_go_private_pulse_gets_social_paypal_adds_retailers
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/dell_logo_200px.png" alt="Dell logo" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />It must be tough to be a public figure in any line of work, with the media constantly waiting to pounce on every word you speak. Such is the case with Dell CEO Michael Dell, who once famously suggested that Apple had no hope of recovery and should simply close its doors and return money to the shareholders. Read on to find out why that statement is so ironic nearly 16 years later...</p><h3>Bloomberg: Dell in Talks to Go Private</h3><p>During Apple's darkest days in 1997, Dell founder Michael Dell was asked what he would do with the troubled company. His response was something along the lines of "I'd shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders," which may come back to haunt him in 2013. <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-14/dell-is-said-be-in-buyout-discussions-with-private-equity-firms.html" target="_blank">According to Bloomberg</a>, the Dell CEO is in buyout talks with private equity firms after losing nearly a third of its stock value last year. TPG Capital and Silver Lake are two of the companies mentioned by sources, with a deal that could be announced as early as this week. As of last Friday, Dell had a market value of $18.9 billion so it's hardly on death's door, but the closing stock price of $12.29 per share on Monday is even less than Apple's dire $17 per share back in 1997.</p><h3>Pulse Gets More Social with YouTube, Tumbler, Instagram</h3><p>The Pulse app continues to grow and evolve, and this week the developers have infused the free, universal app with even more social networking superpowers. <a href="http://blog.pulse.me/post/40527743608/its-social-week-on-pulse" target="_blank">With an update released on Monday</a> for iOS and Android, Pulse now adds social feeds from YouTube, Tumblr, Instagram, Flickr and Facebook, keeping all of your connections in one place and, more importantly, one clean interface. Photo and video viewing has also been given a facelift with the latest update, so be sure to download the latest version, then tap the blue Add Content button to get started.</p><h3>Ouch! CBS May Have Forced CNET to Recast CES Best of Show Vote</h3><p><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/14/3874682/exclusive-cbs-forced-cnet-editors-to-recast-vote-after-hopper-win" target="_blank">The Verge followed up on its story</a> about CBS denying Dish Network a CES "Best of Show" award for its Hopper DVR due to ongoing litigation, and the drama shows no sign of abating. The new report confirms that CBS executives forced CNET to recast the vote after the Dish Hopper with Sling DVR won the contest, a move that has made many question the editorial independence of CNET. Reporter Greg Sandoval announced via Twitter on Monday that he had resigned, citing a lack of confidence in his CBS corporate masters. CBS released a statement of their own in response to The Verge story, calling the controversy "an isolated and unique incident" but doing little to appease their critics.</p><h3>PayPal Bulks Up with 18,000 U.S. Retailers</h3><p><a href="https://www.thepaypalblog.com/2013/01/paypal-retail-locations-2/" target="_blank">PayPal announced Monday</a> that the service is now accepted at 18,000 retail locations across the United States, available at 23 national brand name retailers including Dollar General, RadioShack, Barnes &amp; Noble, Jamba Juice and Office Depot, among others. And that's not all: The company is already hard at work expanding to everyday shopping experiences such as grocery stores and gas pumps, teasing two additional partners that the company plans to share publicly soon. PayPal users are encouraged to sign up for <a href="http://www.paypal.com/anywhere" target="_blank">PayPal Anywhere on the company's website</a>.</p><h3>RIM: 15,000 BlackBerry 10 Apps Submitted in 2 Days</h3><p><a href="http://bgr.com/2013/01/14/blackberry-10-apps-portathon-291324/" target="_blank">BGR is reporting</a> that BlackBerry 10 maker Research in Motion appears confident it will be able to deliver enough apps to satisfy smartphone users when its latest handsets debut at the end of January. The company's VP of developer relations confirmed Monday that more than 15,000 BlackBerry 10-specific apps have been submitted to RIM's BlackBerry App World in only two days, part of a virtual event the company called "Port-A-Thon," which encourages developers to bring their apps to the fledging platform and is even willing to toss $100 for each submitted app which is approved for sale on the store. While those are impressive numbers, it remains to be seen if any of the titles are enough to go toe-to-toe with App Store or Google Play apps.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_dell_could_go_private_pulse_gets_social_paypal_adds_retailers#commentsNewsBlackBerry 10CBSCES 2013cnetDellovernight recapPayPalPulseResearch in MotionRetail Storessocial appsiPadiPhoneiPodMacTue, 15 Jan 2013 13:32:33 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15993 at http://www.maclife.comAnalyst Predicts Nokia, RIM, HTC Could Follow Palm Into Oblivionhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/analyst_predicts_nokia_rim_htc_could_follow_palm_oblivion
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/hp_webos_event_200px.png" alt="HP webOS event" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />While some of us are focused on tomorrow's Mayan apocalypse, smartphone makers have more pressing problems -- like how to shake the possibility that they may have their own real apocalypse to worry about.<br /><br /><a href="http://bgr.com/2012/12/20/rim-htc-nokia-comeback-analysis-260845/" target="_blank">BGR is reporting</a> that a wireless analyst at Barclays Capital is predicting three of Apple's competitors could be facing extinction before their respective comebacks ever get a chance.<br /><br />According to analyst Jeff Kvaal, Nokia, Research in Motion and HTC could wander down the same path previously walked by Palm -- and we all know how that ended.<br /><br />“Taking a look back historically, both Palm and Nokia saw significant upward moves in their stock price ahead of major device launches -- Nokia ahead of the N8 (Symbian^3) launch in 2010 and Palm with the Pre in late Spring/Summer 2009,” Kvaal explained in a research note. “In both cases, the stocks declined materially post launch.”<br /><br />While smartphone giants like Samsung and Apple can ride out the ups and downs of the stock market, smaller rivals with less market share could fare much worse with their respective Windows Phone and BlackBerry products.<br /><br />Although HTC isn't quite lumped into the same category as RIM and Nokia, Kvaal is predicting that the Taiwanese company's fortunes will chart a similar course. For example, HTC's new M7 smartphone will have a "brief moment in the sun" before being wiped off the map by the Samsung Galaxy S IV next year.<br /><br />As Apple can tell you, stock price isn't everything -- but at this point, it may take a miracle for Nokia, RIM and HTC to overcome such obstacles, assuming Apple and Samsung don't make any major miscalculations of their own in the months ahead.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/analyst_predicts_nokia_rim_htc_could_follow_palm_oblivion#commentsNewsanalystsandroidBlackBerry 10htcMarket SharenokiaPalmResearch in MotionsmartphonesStock Priceswindows phoneiPhoneThu, 20 Dec 2012 14:10:46 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15850 at http://www.maclife.comWeekend Recap: A&E iPad Apps, FotoMagico 4.1, BlackBerry 10 Handset Teasedhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_recap_ae_ipad_apps_fotomagico_41_blackberry_10_handset_teased
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/ae_ipad_app_200px.png" alt="A&amp;E iPad app" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />It's beginning to look a lot like the week before Christmas, which means most of us are in a mad dash to scratch off all of the names on our gift lists before the fat man comes sliding down the chimney next Tuesday. If you're ready to take a little break and gift something for yourself, you might want to hit the App Store in search of some freebies to kick back and relax with, or get your first official peek at what RIM has in store for us with BlackBerry 10 next year.</p><h3>A&amp;E, History Channel and Lifetime Apps Arrive for iPad</h3><p>Basic cable television lovers, get thee to your iPads! A&amp;E Television Networks have just served up three iPad-only apps for the same number of its cable channels, complete with full episodes and clips for viewing on the go and the ability to create a customized Watchlist of your favorite shows. The apps are free, but Comcast subscribers can log in and gain access to even more content. Additional cable providers are promised soon, along with AirPlay support for beaming it all back to your Apple TV. The channels represented are <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-e/id571711580?mt=8" target="_blank">A&amp;E</a> (naturally), <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/history/id576009463?mt=8" target="_blank">The History Channel</a> and for the ladies, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lifetime/id579966222?mt=8" target="_blank">Lifetime</a>; download them today from the App Store!</p><h3>FotoMagico 4.1 Adds Slideshow Management Features</h3><p><a href="http://boinx.com/fotomagico/features/" target="_blank">Boinx Software announced the availability of FotoMagico 4.1</a>, an update to its $99.99 slideshow creation software for Mac. The update brings some welcome new features to FotoMagico, including media markers to manage slideshow content and display a small green badge when duplicate media is inserted into a document. The app now allows direct sharing to Vimeo and finally supports the Apple ProRes video codec (when installed) for easy integration with editing software such as Final Cut Pro X. FotoMagico 4.1 is a free update for existing users, available via the Mac App Store or the Boinx website.</p><h3>Google+ 4.0, Dropbox 2.0 for iOS Add New Features</h3><p>Google and Dropbox pushed out updates to their respective iOS apps late last week. First up is <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google+/id447119634?mt=8" target="_blank">Google+ 4.0</a>, which adds Google+ Communities, the ability to subscribe to any circle for notifications, support for time zones in Events and basic profile editing. Meanwhile, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dropbox/id327630330?mt=8" target="_blank">Dropbox 2.0</a> gets a mere two new features for such a big jump in version number, with a "shiny new design" and a new Photos tab for seeing a timeline view of the photos and videos you've automatically added to the cloud service. We're not sure that either update warrants the full version number jump, but if you're a die-hard user of either service, you're probably already tripping over yourself to get to the App Store and download them.</p><h3>RIM Teases First Image of BlackBerry 10 Handset</h3><p>Say, is that a BlackBerry 10 handset in your pocket or are you just happy to see us? It may be too early for the general public to be walking around with Research in Motion's latest hardware just yet, but <a href="http://bgr.com/2012/12/10/blackberry-10-teaser-rim/" target="_blank">that isn't stopping BGR from posting</a> the first image released for the smartphone ahead of its January 30 unveiling. It appears to be the back of the handset we're looking at here, with a "meshed leather look" that BGR describes as reminiscent of the Nexus 7 tablet from Google and ASUS. Got a hankering to see more? Sorry, folks, you'll have to wait until next year to get the full picture...</p><h3>Mailbox for iPhone Coming in Early 2013</h3><p>Personally, we find the built-in Mail app on iOS to be perfectly fine, but that isn't stopping third-party developers from reinventing the wheel. Now that Google has swallowed up Sparrow, another challenger has risen to the occasion with the forthcoming <a href="http://www.mailboxapp.com" target="_blank">Mailbox</a>, which promises to make your iPhone and Gmail experience most excellent in the new year. While we're not quite sure about Mailbox's claims of achieving inbox zero on a daily basis (maybe they don't get as much email as we do?), the app looks pretty slick, so stay tuned for more on this one next year.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/weekend_recap_ae_ipad_apps_fotomagico_41_blackberry_10_handset_teased#commentsNewsA&EBlackBerry 10Boinx SoftwareDropboxEmailFotoMagicofree appsGoogle PlusiPad Appsweekend recapiPadiPhoneiPodMacMon, 17 Dec 2012 13:23:03 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15822 at http://www.maclife.comRIM Makes It Official: BlackBerry 10 Launch Event Coming Jan. 30http://www.maclife.com/article/news/rim_makes_it_official_blackberry_10_launch_event_coming_jan_30
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/blackberry_10_launch_event_200px.png" alt="BlackBerry 10 launch event" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Remember BlackBerry 10? Although the revamped mobile platform has become more notable for its delays than innovation, it seems Research in Motion will finally be letting the cat out of the bag in January.<br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.blackberry.com/2012/11/blackberry-10-launch-event/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InsideBlackberry-TheOfficialBlackBerryBlog+%28Inside+BlackBerry+-+The+Official+BlackBerry+Blog%29" target="_blank">Inside BlackBerry: The Official BlackBerry Blog, has announced</a> a January 30, 2013 launch event for the new BlackBerry 10 platform after numerous delays and a whole lot of hand-wringing by analysts, who have most recently predicted the mobile OS may be dead on arrival.<br /><br />Research in Motion is rightfully far more bullish on their prospects, with the launch event being held simultaneously in multiple countries around the world and promising "details of the smartphones and their availability will be announced."<br /><br />“In building BlackBerry 10, we set out to create a truly unique mobile computing experience that constantly adapts to your needs," said Thorsten Heins, President and CEO of Research In Motion in a press release Monday. "Our team has been working tirelessly to bring our customers innovative features combined with a best in class browser, a rich application ecosystem, and cutting-edge multimedia capabilities. All of this will be integrated into a user experience -- the BlackBerry Flow -- that is unlike any smartphone on the market today.<br /><br />"Thanks to our strong partnerships with global carriers and a growing ecosystem of developers, we believe our customers will have the best experience possible with BlackBerry 10," Heins concluded. "We are looking forward to getting BlackBerry 10 in the hands of our customers around the world.”<br /><br />It remains to be seen if RIM will take a cue from the Apple playbook and start shipping these products within a week or two of the launch event, or whether already suffering BlackBerry users will have to wait even longer to get their hands on one.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/rim_makes_it_official_blackberry_10_launch_event_coming_jan_30#commentsNewsBlackBerry 10launch eventsmultimediaoperating systemsResearch in MotionsmartphonesThorsten HeinsiPhoneMon, 12 Nov 2012 14:13:36 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15559 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: Office for iOS, Apple's Peak, DC Comics Expands Digitalhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_office_ios_apples_peak_dc_comics_expands_digital
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/office_for_ios_apps_200ox.png" alt="Microsoft Office for iOS" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />If you're a die-hard Apple fan -- and who reading MacLife.com isn't? -- you'll want to read an opinion piece published on The Guardian this week, which puts forth the theory that Apple may have hit its peak this year and it could all be downhill from here. Did that pique your interest? Then read on to find out more about it in our overnight recap.</p><h3>Report: Microsoft Office for iOS, Android Coming Early 2013</h3><p><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/7/3612422/microsoft-office-mobile-ipad-iphone-android-screenshots" target="_blank">The Verge filed an exclusive report Wednesday</a> to confirm that yes, Virginia, there really is a Microsoft Office app for both iOS and Android, and it's coming in early 2013. Apparently the apps will be free for viewing Office documents on the go, with a Microsoft account required to gain entry to them. In order to unlock editing features, users will need an Office 365 subscription, but the report notes that only "basic editing" will be included. The iOS version is expected first around late February or early March, with the Android version bringing up the rear in May. Oh, and they've got the screenshots to pretty much prove it, too...</p><h3>Could Apple's Best Days Be Behind Them?</h3><p>As Apple die-hards, we'd be lying if we didn't admit to wondering when this crazy jet-fueled trajectory the company has been on the last few years is going to finally sputter out. After all, what goes up must come down, right? Former Apple engineer Dan Crow apparently wonders the same thing, and has <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/nov/07/peak-apple" target="_blank">published an op/ed in The Guardian on Wednesday</a> that details why he thinks Cupertino may be headed for an eventual fall. Crow points to the iOS 6 Maps debacle and the recent ousting of VPs Scott Forstall and John Browett as evidence, with "Apple's peak of creativity, innovation and leadership" having ended earlier this year. While Crow claims it's all downhill from here, he stresses that he doesn't see the company falling from grace quite as dramatically as Nokia or RIM have. What do you think, dear reader? Has Apple hit its peak?</p><h3>DC Comics Expands Digital Distribution to iBookstore, Kindle</h3><p><a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/11/07/dc-comics-announces-deals-to-sell-digital-comics-in-big-three-e-bookstores-says-digital-sales-have-grown-197/" target="_blank">First noted by TechCrunch on Wednesday</a>, DC Comics has announced a new digital initiative, bringing its monthly comics onto iBookstore, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=tsm_1_tw_kin_kb_121107_comics?ie=UTF8&amp;node=6118019011" target="_blank">Kindle</a> and NOOK storefronts for the first time. The move essentially sidesteps comic-only e-tailers such as the ComiXology app, as well as DC's own offering based on it. The publisher notes that digital comic sales are up 197 percent year-over-year, not particularly surprising given the company's shift last year to day and date digital releases in step with the print editions. Ironically, the print editions are actually up 12 percent during the same period -- so much for the idea that digital is killing the dead tree model.</p><h3>Apple Store App Brings Passbook-Based Gift Cards, Siri Search</h3><p>Apple has once again updated its <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/apple-store/id375380948?mt=8" target="_blank">Apple Store app</a> on Wednesday and while there's still no native iPad support (seriously, Apple… what gives?), the version 2.4 release does offer a few compelling new treats. First up is Siri, who can now help users find prices or shop for Apple products on compatible devices. The app also enables customers to buy new gift cards and email them to loved ones, who can then add them to their own iOS 6 Passbook app, making it easier to flash them on their next retail store visit.</p><h3>Analyst: BlackBerry 10 May Be Dead on Arrival</h3><p>Research in Motion is still a few months away from shipping its BlackBerry 10 smartphones, but <a href="http://bgr.com/2012/11/07/blackberry-10-analysis-dead-on-arrival/" target="_blank">a report from BGR reveals</a> it may already be too late. Pacific Crest Securities analyst James Faucette issued a note to investors on Wednesday touting Microsoft's Windows Phone 8 as a more appealing platform than BlackBerry, essentially predicting RIM's new entry will be dead on arrival. “We believe BB10 is likely to be DOA,” Faucette said. “We expect the new OS to be met with a lukewarm response at best and ultimately likely to fail.” RIM's last stand is expected sometime in the first quarter of 2013.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a><br /><br />(Image courtesy of The Verge)</em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_office_ios_apples_peak_dc_comics_expands_digital#commentsNewsApple Inc.Apple StoreBlackBerry 10dc comicsiBookstorekindlemicrosoft officeovernight recapPassbookSiriiPadiPhoneThu, 08 Nov 2012 13:26:33 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15523 at http://www.maclife.comOvernight Recap: Firefox 16 Released, BlackBerry 10 Delay, Just Landed Updateshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_firefox_16_released_blackberry_10_delay_just_landed_updates
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/firefox_icon_200px.png" alt="Firefox" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />You gotta wonder what life is like inside the walls of BlackBerry maker Research in Motion. While analysts tend to be hard even on companies like Apple who are on top of the world, they particularly seem to like kicking companies like RIM when they're down -- and that's exactly what happened on Tuesday, with a report that BlackBerry 10 may now be delayed until March of next year, which seems like an eternity in mobile OS time. But wait! There's more...</p><h3>Mozilla Releases Firefox 16</h3><p>Time passes quickly, and with Mozilla's "rapid release" schedule for Firefox, that means the version you're using has probably been replaced already. Sure enough, Mozilla pushed out <a href="http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/" target="_blank">Firefox 16</a> on Tuesday, <a href="http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/16.0/releasenotes/" target="_blank">adding preliminary VoiceOver support for OS X</a> which is turned on by default, as well as initial web app support for the Mac, Windows and Linux. Developers also get a trio of new changes, and all users get a handful of bug fixes, as well as improvements around JavaScript responsiveness through what Mozilla calls "incremental garbage collection." If you're a Firefox user, you know what to do next… assuming you haven't already pulled the trigger, that is.</p><h3>Just Landed Updated for iPhone 5, iOS 6 Maps Support</h3><p><a href="http://www.getjustlanded.com" target="_blank">The folks at Just Landed</a> have been keeping busy since we reviewed the app several months back, and a new update this week not only adds support for the iPhone 5 but also improves the quality app in several other ways. <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/just-landed/id520338005?mt=8" target="_blank">Just Landed</a> now prompts the user to send a text message to the person you're picking up, even as you roll into the terminal -- even automatically filling in the message with helpful information such as the baggage claim number. The in-app airline code search now offers its own version of a spell check while helping users input the flight number directly. Last but not least, Just Landed now integrates with iOS 6 Maps, offering turn-by-turn directions for actually getting to the airport to make your pickup. With more than 150,000 users in 20 different countries, Just Landed is ready and waiting to take you on your next airport run -- but first you'll need to <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/just-landed/id520338005?mt=8" target="_blank">stop by the App Store and download it</a>.</p><h3>Analyst Claims BlackBerry 10 Delayed Until March</h3><p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericsavitz/2012/10/09/research-in-motion-no-bb10-debut-until-march-analyst-says/" target="_blank">According to Forbes</a>, the bad news for BlackBerry maker Research in Motion just keeps on coming. Jefferies analyst Peter Misek filed a research note earlier this week claiming that RIM's eagerly-anticipated BlackBerry 10 mobile OS is not likely to launch until March of next year. That estimate still falls within the company's loose "first quarter of 2013" predictions, but most industry observers were hoping for January instead. Misek also has little hope that RIM will be acquired or even license their technology in the near future, which is seen as crucial to the company's chances of being a third dominant mobile platform after iOS and Android.</p><h3>Video: FxFactory Adds XEffects 3D Style Transitions for FCPX</h3><p>The folks at FxFactory continue to bulk up Final Cut Pro X's tool chest, and this week their partner<a href="http://www.idustrialrevolution.com/x2-3d-transitions" target="_blank"> Idustrial Revolution has released XEffects 3D Transitions</a>, a $49 collection of 24 transition effects all built in 3D space with camera moves, variable focal lengths, shallow depth of field, lighting and reflections. "Gorgeous glossy transitions all animating with 3D depth that make other effects look rather flat," the company adds. "We say 24 effects, but if we broke the presets down individually, there would be over 100 different different transitions in the pack!" A free trial version is available to download, and you'll need the latest versions of both FxFactory and Final Cut Pro X to install.</p><p><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Sy0TzQaGBR8" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe>&nbsp;</p><h3>Hulu Expands Partnership with Viacom for Kids Shows</h3><p><a href="http://blog.hulu.com/2012/10/09/are-you-ready-kids-current-season-nickelodeon-shows-are-now-available-on-hulu-plus/" target="_blank">Hulu announced on its blog Tuesday</a> that the streaming company has expanded its partnership with Viacom to include current-season kid's shows. That means your little ones can catch the latest five episodes of their favorite Nickelodeon shows -- online, or with a Hulu Plus subscription, on connected TVs, set-top boxes, video game consoles and even mobile devices, including the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Shows include SpongeBob SquarePants, Kung Fu Panda, The Penguins of Madagascar, the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and even iCarly, which is now in its final season. Hulu is also broadening its Latino selection on Hulu Plus to include more content from Viacom.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p><em><br /></em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/overnight_recap_firefox_16_released_blackberry_10_delay_just_landed_updates#commentsNewsBlackBerry 10Firefox 16FxFactoryHulu PlusiOS 6iphone 5Just LandedMozillaovernight recapResearch in MotioniPhoneMacWed, 10 Oct 2012 12:39:48 +0000J.R. Bookwalter15276 at http://www.maclife.com